Improvement in bosom-pads



ELIZABETH STWELL,

Bussum-Pads. 010,147,526. Panni-ed eb.17.1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIZABETH sTowELL, on NEW YORK, n. r.

iMPRovEMENr IN eosoM-PADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,526, dated February 17, 1874 application filed September 21, 1872. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH STOWELL, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breast-Protector and Skeleton Pad for Ladies, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is the production of a protector and skeleton pad for ladies wear, so constructed and combined as to impart to the breast of the wearer natures perfect contour; a pad that shall be so light as not to injure the person in any way easy of application, and of small first cost, the invention being especially designed for those lacking from any cause a symmetrical and graceful outline at this portion of the body. rlhe invention consists of a protector and pad of skeleton form, composed of strips of flexible 'material arranged in mammiform upon a body made of any suitable cloth, and adapted to be worn in the upper portion of the corset in such a manner as to prevent undue pressure of the outer garments upon the breasts, and also in giving to the form an elegant. and symmetrical outline.

Then the pads are attached to the cloth body, stays are introduced in said body between the two pads, so as to stiffen it and help to retain the pads in their proper position.

In the drawings the figure is a top view of my improvement.

My improved protector and skeleton pad are constructed as follows: A is a piece of twilled cotton or other suitable fabric, of suitable outline, ornamented, if desired, and adapted to its purpose. Two circular. pieces are removed from this piece of material, equidistant from its ends, forming openings of sufficient size to easily fit around the breasts. Two of these pieces A are placed back to back, and their outer edges bound and sewed together in such manner as to cause the inner edges of the openings made by the removal of the two pieces mentioned, to stand up from the plane of the rest of the material. .The edges of the openings are bound or hemmed separately, and these two pieces form the body of the device. b b are strips of whalebone or other suitable material, introduced into pockets formed between the pieces A A, for the purpose cf strengthening and stiffening the device, and also to preserve its form. B B are skeleton pads, formed of strips a a. et of iieXible material, which are bent across each other and sei cured between the pieces A A by eyelets or or other suitable fastenin gs c c, in such a manner as to freely fit over and cover the breasts. These strips a a are composed of two strips of whalebone or other iiexible material, secured in pockets of cotton or other fabric, the pockets being ateither side of the fabric, as shown. The strips are 'crossed over each other, as shown, and, at the point of intersection, are secured together by an eyelet, Ste.

Any suitable ornamentation may be placed upon the strips and body of the article, so as to make it neat and attractive; but the mannni# form pads are, as a whole, produced by these curved spring strips, and should not be entirely covered, as the. interstices between the strips permit a free ventilation, and hence the breast is not unduly heated, as in other' pads, but a free passage of air is allowed, so that the device can be worn without any bad effects.

Generally, and preferably, the two pads are made upon 011e body, but sometimes it may be desirable to have them separate. In this case, circular bodies are made for each pad, and, of course, the stiffening b b dispensed with; otherwise the construction is the same.

I do not, broadly, claim a breast-pad, having flexible strips crossing each other, for such is not my invention; but

I cla-im as my invention- The double ventilated breast-pad herein described, consisting of the pieces A A and strips a ct a., arranged in pairs, crossing each other, as shown, and confined in place at their centers and ends by eyelets, the whole arranged as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of September, 1872.

ELIZABETH STOVELL.

YVitnesses W. H. MELICK, H. S. HAwKs. 

